Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul was full of praise on his opening partner Quinton de Kock after his team won the thrilling contest against Kolkata Knight Riders by two runs at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday.
With this win, LSG has qualified for the playoff stages.
Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul added a gargantuan alliance of 210 runs for the opening partnership and it is the biggest opening stand in the history of the IPL. In fact, this is also the third-highest stand for any partnership in the IPL.
Quinton went on to score an unbeaten knock of 140 runs off just 70 balls and thereby scored his second IPL hundred. On the other hand, KL Rahul played a second fiddle to de Kock’s masterpiece as he scored 68 runs off 51 balls. It wasn’t the easiest of pitches but LSG openers made it look otherwise.
In fact, Quinton de Kock had the rub of the green on his side as he was given a reprieve by Abhijeet Tomar when he was only on 12. Quinton went on to punish KKR and he was just unstoppable in the last few overs. LSG went on to score 78 runs in the last five overs and the lion’s share of the scoring was done by Quinton de Kock as he showed mercy for the KKR bowlers.
On the other hand, the match down to the wire as Rinku Singh scored 16 runs off the first three balls of the final over against Marcus Stoinis when 21 runs were needed. However, the Australian was able to defend three runs off the last two balls to help his team get the thrilling win.
Meanwhile, Mohsin Khan bowled another impressive spell of 3-20 in his four overs as he accounted for Venkatesh Iyer, Abhijeet Tomar, and the dangerous Andre Russell. Rahul believes Khan will soon play for India if he keeps up the good show.
KL Rahul said in the post-match presentation, “I should probably get paid more for games like this. We had missed games like this, this season. Haven’t been many games that have gone down to the last ball, maybe some which went to the last over. Happy to be on the other side. Could easily have been on the losing side and have gone back home thinking we lost due to some poor cricket. A good way to finish the last game of the league season. Credit to both teams to make such a brilliant game of cricket. Can’t say we held our nerves better because it was a matter of three runs. For Stoinis to execute those plans in the last two balls to get us the win, was brilliant. We batted well, and started well with the bat. We knew that KKR would come hard at us, credit to them as they kept playing good shots. The only talk during timeouts was to back your best balls. The minute we went away from the plans was when it became easier for the batters.
He added, “Good learning for us. Wins like these help to keep the team together. I was a spectator today in the last few overs. He (De Kock) was striking the ball so crisply and cleanly. What we lacked in some of the games was that the guys who were having good days weren’t winning us games.
Guys getting 30s and 40s had to get us 80s and 90s, and that’s exactly what he did. Everyone has been brilliant, starting with Lewis, that catch was brilliant. He’s been struggling with tummy issues for the last few weeks, been in and out of the team. Never easy. Didn’t get to bat today. But that’s what you want to see from players, their desire to contribute in any way possible. Mohsin has been outstanding for us in the last few games. He’s got the skills but the key thing has been his knowledge of when to use those skills. He’ll be donning the Blue jersey soon the way he is going.”
LSG will finish in the second place if RR loses their last league stage match against CSK.
